Keepsake Box With Hidden Compartment

This box has mitered corner joinery that can easily be made on the tablesaw and reinforced with splines. The inside has a top sliding tray that moves to reveal a lower tray. When all the trays are lifted out, a secret hidden compartment is revealed to hide your valuables. All these trays are lined with a soft flocking and I’m using solid brass quadrant hinges from Brusso Hardware. Full tutorial with video on how I made this.

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7 comments so far

I imagine being sponsored by Rockler you had some help deferring the cost but between the cost of the wood and hinges not to mention the jig for the hinges, your average person would have well over $120 into this build. I’m not sure I can justify that for a box no matter how pretty. I really like it…...but ouch that stings.

-- Directions are just the Manufacturer's opinion on how something should be assembled. ----Mike, Waukesha, WI

Very nice box, great work as usual. very expensive hinges! Very expensive hinges! Tricky to install too, they have been the bane of my existence on my last few projects (the cheaper $3 version of course).

One thing I’d like to interject for the new box makers or those just coming into box making, when mating up the mitered joints, to make sure you get an even edge use a straight board with all pieces butted up against to make sure all parts in line before taping them together and also all mitered joints after cutting have a porous cut the wood can soak up the glue thus causing an not so tight bond so it’s best to wipe the glue on and let it sit for about 5 mins allowing the wood to soak it up along with drying, then come back with another fresh coat of glue which gives all corner miter joints a much stronger bond.